Van life offers freedom and flexibility, but choosing whether to include a bathroom in your van is a huge decision. Bathrooms can occupy valuable space, so it’s crucial to carefully weigh their benefits against the impact on your van’s layout. If you opt for a bathroom, you’ll need to consider which components will best suit your needs and maximize efficiency in your build.
The biggest deciding factor is your lifestyle. If you find yourself off the beaten path quite often, changing your plans to find a bathroom or shower is going to get old fast. Your comfort with using truck stops or campground bathrooms on the reg will determine whether or not you invest in a toilet or shower in your camper van.
Pros of Having a Bathroom in Your Van
Convenience
Having a bathroom in your van offers convenience, especially when camping in remote areas. You can use the bathroom whenever needed without searching for public facilities. This is particularly useful during late-night stops or in locations where restrooms are scarce.
Hygiene/Comfort
Public restrooms may not always be clean, and having your own space allows you to maintain cleanliness standards. This is mainly a comfort factor, but sharing showers can put your feet at risk of fungus and other germs.
Privacy
A built-in bathroom provides privacy, which is a huge factor. You don’t need to rely on public restrooms or camp facilities, which may be crowded or far from your parking spot.
Cons of Having a Bathroom in Your Van
Space Consumption
Bathrooms take up valuable space in a van. Installing a toilet or shower reduces living and storage areas. For those with smaller vans, this can be a significant drawback, as space is already limited.
Maintenance
Maintaining a van bathroom requires effort and regular upkeep. Depending on the toilet that you opt for, you may manage water tanks, empty waste tanks, and clean the bathroom area frequently. This can be time-consuming and may require additional resources.
Cost
Adding a bathroom increases the cost of your van build. The expense includes purchasing and installing fixtures, plumbing, and water systems. For those on a tight budget, this added cost may be a deciding factor against including a bathroom.
Things to Consider
Travel Style
Frequenting remote areas or boondocking makes a built-in bathroom more beneficial. If you often stay at campgrounds with facilities, the need for an onboard bathroom decreases.
Van Size
Larger vans can accommodate a bathroom without sacrificing too much space. Smaller vans may benefit more from using the space for other purposes. Not all water systems take up a ton of space. Check out how our vans are set up to maximize space and make refilling your supply super convenient:
Budget
A bathroom adds significant cost to your van build. Evaluate if this fits within your financial plan and if the benefits outweigh the expense.
Maintenance Willingness
Assess your willingness to perform maintenance. Bathrooms require regular upkeep and resource management. If you prefer a low-maintenance setup, a bathroom-less van may be more suitable.
Van Life Bathroom Options
To help you weigh the pros and cons of maintenance and costs, let’s go over your bathroom options. We’ll start with the cheapest to most expensive.
1. Campervan Toilets
These are convenient and portable toilets you can keep inside your van. Most people hang a curtain or something similar around it for a hideable, private feeling. The only downside to campervan toilets is the associated chores. You’ll have to dump bagless ones eventually, which isn’t a fun thing to do.
Here are the most popular styles of campervan toilets:
- Luggable Loo or something similar
- This is a 5-gallon bucket with a clip-on seat. It’s used alongside baggies that allow for easy disposal and cleaning. When not in use, it can be used as storage. (Check out the Hunter’s Portable Loo).
- Foldable Toilets
- These are space-saving and use wag bags for easy clean-up. Keep in mind that wag bags are really meant for solid waste, not liquid. TriTips Retractable Portable Toilet makes the option to have a toilet, easy.
- Cassette Toilets
- These look and feel like a real toilet and do not use wag bags. They employ a chemical solution to avoid odors. You can dump them at campsites, but you have to remove the entire contraption from the van since there is no permanent plumbing. We recommend the SeaFlo Portable Toilet. It’s simple to use and easy to clean!
- Composting Toilets
- While pricey, composting toilets are gaining steam because they’re A) environmentally friendly B) have to be emptied less frequently, and C) less smelly.#1 and #2 are held separately to avoid odors, and most van lifers end up tossing the compost mixture in the trash. The Boxio Portable Composting Toilet is what we recommend for composting toilets.
2. Wet Baths
A wet bath is essentially a shower with a closed-lid toilet inside. It is an area in your van where everything is okay to get wet. This option is best for larger vans because of the space it takes up. It does make the van feel nice and homey, though. Note that, if not careful, wet baths can add a lot of weight to your van.
3. Foldable Bathrooms for Van Life
This option is similar to a wet bath, but you can easily “fold” it up, or hide it, to make use of the space when not in use. This could look like a bench or ottoman with a drain inside, and a fold-up shower curtain and shower head in the same area. The TRIPTIPS Pop Up Shower Tent is a super easy way to make a designated space to clean, use the bathroom or change your clothes.
4. 2–In-1 Sink Shower
At Geotrek, our Mercedes Sprinter Vans come bathroom-free. However, the kitchen sink is directly next to a window and has a gooseneck faucet that can be turned out of the window and used as a quick shower. It’s perfect for hosing things off outside of the van and great for quick rinses.
Van Life Responsibility
Many people decide to enjoy van life with no bathroom in their vans. There are fewer chores, less space taken by the bathroom, less maintenance, and fewer trips to the disposal site.
For the most part, finding campground facilities, gas stations, McDonalds, or Walmarts isn’t too hard. And, a lot of van lifers have a toilet system that they keep on hand for emergencies or one-offs.
The van life community is growing fast, and with a larger population, we have to keep in mind our impact on the environment and those around us.
Proper Waste Disposal
One of the most critical aspects of van life is ensuring proper waste disposal. Whether you have a composting toilet, cassette toilet, or portable toilet, it’s vital to empty waste tanks at designated dump stations. Avoiding improper disposal helps prevent pollution and protects natural environments.
Use Biodegradable Products
To minimize your environmental footprint, use biodegradable toilet paper and cleaning products. These break down more easily and reduce the impact on wastewater treatment systems and the environment. We recommend products like Sierra Dawn Campsuds or Dr. Bronner’s – Pure-Castile Liquid Soap.
Water Conservation
Van life requires careful water management as you do not have an unlimited supply unless hooked up. If you have a shower in your van, limit your water usage as much as possible. Consider using a low-flow showerhead and turning off the water while lathering up. This will save you from running out of water in your van and will conserve water, a precious resource.
If you are in dire-need of a shower and still want to conserve water, try body wipes (like Hustle Clean). No water is required to use and you’ll feel good as new!
Whatever path you choose, make sure to follow Leave No Trace principles, and in general, practice cleanliness and thoughtfulness.